Technology was the clear theme at the Tribute Technology Summit in Park City on February 23-25th, 2026.
Across conversations between funeral homes, technology providers, and service partners, one message came through clearly. Our industry is entering a new era of digital innovation, and the conversations in Park City reflected both the excitement and the thoughtful approach many leaders are taking as they look toward the future.
A great place to start was Courtney Gould Miller from Homesteaders Life Company, who helped set the stage with a thoughtful overview of how technology platforms are helping funeral homes modernize the way they serve families. Courtney highlighted how tools like video storytelling, TV distribution, and digital memorial platforms are expanding the ways communities can celebrate lives and share stories.
The conversation also turned to one of the most talked about topics of the summit. Artificial Intelligence.
Industry leaders Jeff Hagel of McInnis & Holloway Funeral Homes and Kyle Nikola from Fidelity Life shared thoughtful perspectives on how AI may influence large funeral home operations in the years ahead. Their discussion touched on everything from family engagement and personalization to operational efficiency. The takeaway was clear. AI is quickly becoming a meaningful tool for firms that are thinking carefully about how technology can support their work.
Another memorable theme throughout the summit was seeing funeral homes themselves creating digital solutions for the profession.
Karen Angius from Altmeyer Funeral Homes shared the vision behind Treasured Memories, a platform that allows families to raise charitable donations in honor of loved ones. The concept brings a community driven approach to memorial giving and opens new ways for families to celebrate a life through charitable support.
Bob Arrington discussed the continued growth of ObituaryShare, which provides funeral homes with an easier way to distribute obituaries and memorial notices across social media.
Justin Whatley from OneRoom highlighted the expansion of online memorial participation and video streaming for services. His presentation showed how families increasingly expect digital access to remembrance, allowing loved ones from anywhere to take part in honoring a life.
Taken together, the conversations throughout the Summit pointed to a simple but important reality. Technology is becoming an essential part of how funeral homes serve families and support meaningful memorial experiences.
In a fitting moment later in the summit, Courtney Gould Miller stepped in when a colleague from our team was unable to present. She graciously delivered the overview of Chptr’s technology platform and did a terrific job explaining how Tribute Spotlights and digital distribution can help funeral homes reach families across TV, streaming, and social media.
We are incredibly grateful for her support and partnership.
It was also great to see several funeral home partners who are actively working with both Tribute Technology and Chptr, including Anthem Partners, Carrillo Funeral Homes, and Verheyden Funeral Home. Each of them continues to play an important role in bringing new technology into the profession in thoughtful ways that support the families they serve.
It was an insightful and productive trip and a reminder that innovation in funeral service is strongest when funeral homes and technology partners work together.